Thoughts By Bill Strom

2023-01-22

Heart, Soul, Mind, Strength

Ever wonder what the Bible means when it says to love God with your heart, soul, strength, and mind?

2022-12-11

Giving Away Our Gifts

Can you name a gift you passionately value? A calling is any inner tug or summoning to “give our gifts away.”

2022-09-08

When the Spirit Prompts, Forgive

Do you feel nudged to forgive people who have hurt you? Or do you want to nurse your ego by not forgiving?

2021-11-28

The Sun Shines

Do you find yourself withholding love or rewards from people because you don’t like them?

2021-06-13

Crying from the Cave

Are you crying from a cave just now? Will you trust God to sustain you amidst your challenges?

2021-03-08

It’s Good to Forgive

Forgiving the offender helps them heal. Also, forgiving the offender helps the forgiver heal.

2020-02-02

When the Spirit Prompts, Forgive

Ever wonder how we are nudged by God’s Spirit? I have wondered if the Holy Spirit resides in my thoughts, feelings, or body. I consider this a mystery, however it works.

2019-12-07

Christmas Time. Family Time?

Christmas is about Hope. Hope is best shared with family even amidst broken family gatherings. Make the most of your Christmas gatherings.

2019-11-26

A New Name

The saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” could not be any more false. Actually, verbal abuse cuts to the core and wounds the spirit like piercing arrows.

2019-10-15

Better a Millstone

What causes you to stumble? What takes you away from God rather than drawing you closer to him? What makes you want to stop believing rather than rest in peaceful trust?

2019-09-18

Called to Compassion

Dear God, help me understand your unfailing compassion for the world, and for me too. I confess that I am as messed up as people around me, and am desperately in need of your redeeming love. Keep from me a smugness of heart that would hold back my own compassion for others. Amen.

2019-08-28

Patience Toward My Enemies

Have you ever been bullied? When we experience hardship, we might ask, “What is God teaching me here, and how may I, like him, be patient and merciful even toward my enemies?”

2019-07-26

Walking Through Open Doors

God, help me pay attention to clear signs you provide regarding my future

2019-04-09

Run or Help?

As difficult as it is, can you withhold repaying evil for evil? Will you extend grace and forgiveness toward people who wound, offend, or assault you?

2019-03-02

Helmet of Salvation

I remember as a child trying to figure out why the ‘armor of God’ fit particular parts of the body. “Take the helmet of salvation…” Ephesians 6:17a

2019-01-23

Praying on Behalf of Others

...So I prayed for him. Interceded for him. Not a long prayer, just one that asked God to help this brother forgive his mom for so much pain, and that they might be able to talk about it, and work through it.

2018-03-28

Willing to Love, Able to Save

“Such a high priest [Jesus] truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set

2017-05-04

Lesson from the Belly of a Fish

Jonah's lesson: "When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple" (Jonah 2:7). Jonah’s prayer is worth imitating because he recognized his wrongdoing, humbled himself, and rededicated himself to God’s ways.

2016-10-16

Words Count

“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Proverbs 12:18 “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4